Answers
from the Gray Whale ExpertSpecial
thanks to expert Kim
Shelden for providing her time and expertise in
responding to your questions below.

From:
Ontario
Scott Young P.S.Q: Why do the gray whales swim all the way down to Mexico
to have their babies? Why don’t they stay were they are because
they have enough fat to keep them warm.

A: The moms do have plenty
of fat to keep them warm, but the babies don't! When gray
whales
are born they have
practically
no fat on their bodies. In fact their skin hangs in folds along
their bodies and they look like little tadpoles. So it is much
better for these babies
to be born in warmer waters away from the cold of the Arctic
where mom can nurse them until they get nice and fat for the
return trip to Alaska.
Baby gray whales gain weight very quickly and
grow about 9 feet by the time they are weaned
.Q: How much fat does the gray whale really have?

A. The amount of fat varies greatly, depending on
the time of year and age of the whale. When the whales are feeding
off Alaska,
their body
fat increases. When they migrate, they burn fat and lose
weight. Body fat is different from blubber, and gray whales
are losing mostly body fat when
lose weight. Some blubber thickness is also
lost during migration, but it is not very much. Blubber thickness
can range from 9 cm to
20 cm depending on the age of the whale.

Q: Why do gray whales have so much fat when they swim
around a lot? Wouldn’t they burn off a lot of that fat?

A: Gray whales are constantly eating while
they summer up north off Alaska. During this time they gain
weight by eating the large
zooplankton found in the cold waters off Alaska. During the
summer feeding season they are not traveling the long
distances they do when they migrate. During the migration south
to Mexico then back north to Alaska, gray whales feed opportunistically
(only when and where the find food) but they
are expending much more energy swimming during the migration.
Some whales become quite skinny before they return to Alaska.From:
Michigan
West Ottawa Public School

Q: Do whales migrate to the exact same area each year and how can
we be certain?

A: One way researchers can tell if whales migrate
to the same areas is by photographing the whales and looking for
unique marks on their bodies. This is called photo-identification. This
technique
has been used to track humpback whales, killer whales, bowhead
whales, and many other species. In fact, scientists using photographs
found that about 70% of the gray whales found off Sakhalin Island,
Russia, return to the same feeding areas year after year. Scientists
call this "seasonal site fidelity."

Q: Can we define the "gps" system they use to navigate?

A: This is a great question, and one that scientists continue
to investigate. Some researchers speculate that gray whales use
landmarks, keeping the coast in view most of their migration — but
no one really knows how any of these whales navigate the oceans.

Q:
What effect will global warming have on these animals?

A: Many scientists are investigating this important question.
Gray whales appear to be ranging farther north now that sea ice
does not block
their way to the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Going farther north
has meant they must travel farther to get to Mexico from Alaska.
As a result, the peak numbers
of whales that pass counting stations on the California coast are
now as much as a week later than they used to be, and we have been
seeing more calves
born before they reach the lagoons in Mexico. Recent sightings
also show that gray whales are feeding in new areas along their
migration path. It
is hard to know if gray whales can continue to adapt to the changes
occurring in their environment.

From:
Massachusetts
West Tisbury School

Q: Our multiage class (6-8 year olds) have been studying
the whaling history of Martha's Vineyard and whales. They want to
know: Did the whalers ever hunt gray whales for oil? Were gray whales
hunted for anything?

A: Yes! Gray whales were hunted so extensively that
they were put on the Endangered Species list. The following description
can be found in a book by Dale Rice and Allen Wolman (1971) called
The Life History and Ecology of the Gray Whale, (Eschrichtius robustus).

Gray whales
found in the winter off California were hunted from 1846 to 1900. It was
in 1846 when whalers discovered the wintering lagoons
along the west coast of Baja California. From 1860-1861, about
60 American whaling vessels were whaling in the lagoons. In 1854, the
first shore whaling station was established and by 1874 there were
11 stations strung along the coast of California and Baja California.
About 10,800 gray whales were killed during that time. Some were
also killed in Alaska waters. By 1886 only 5 whaling stations remained.
Whalers continued to catch and kill gray whales in small numbers
until 1946 when commercial whaling of gray whales was forbidden
by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Unlike
other large whale populations, these gray whales were able to recover
from commercial whaling, now numbering about 20,000 whales. Aboriginal
hunting of these whales is still allowed along the Russian coast
and the Native American Makah tribe of Washington state has requested
permits to hunt these whales as well.

Q:
Do they often follow boats and spyhop on people? How do they play? How
do they react to people?

A: Some gray whales are referred to as "friendly" because
they seem to be curious, approaching boats and allowing themselves
to be touched. Others, such as moms with babies, can be very protective.
They may move away from boats, or if they feel their baby is threatened,
lash
out at the intruder with their powerful flukes. It is important
to remember that whales are a protected species and many countries
have laws about keeping your distance. It is okay if the whale approaches
you, but not for you to chase or disturb the whale.

Q:
How high is their spout, how long does it last?

A: A gray whale can spout about 3 to 4 m (10-13 ft) into the
air. The spout will be taller and higher if weather conditions are
calm. A spout can be visible for about 20 seconds (by which time the
whale has probably spouted again).

From Minneapolis, Minnesota

Q:
What are some kinds of current gray whale research that you know of?

A: There are many different projects studying gray whales
at this time. Researchers are in the Mexico lagoons counting whales
and looking to see if animals appear healthy. Some researchers are
in shore stations from Alaska to California counting the whales as
they migrate north and south to find out the total abundance of the
population and the number of calves being born. Others are studying
areas where gray whales feed in waters off Washington state, Canada,
and Alaska. There are also scientists studying gray whales that may
be effected by oil and gas drilling in Alaska and Russia.

How
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